Easily installable post for fences, docks and the like



G. DALINE Dec. 27, 1966 EASILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKS ANDTHE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1964 opawv 041. m

United States Patent 3,293,809 EASILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKSAND THE LIKE Gordon Daline, 3548 Colfax Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn.55408 Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,745 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-157) Thisinvention relates to posts for use with fences, docks and the like,which may be easily installed without requiring the preparation of postholes or the utilization of pile drivers, sledges or the like, foranchoring.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple and highly efiicientpost construction capable of utilizing readily available materials suchas short lengths of the heavier lumber, short poles and stakes, and alsoinexpensive metals which enables a hollow post member to be initiallyset in upright position by hand, in combination with a freely slidablestake member telescoped therewithin and securely anchor itself and thepost by application of torque from the upper end of the stake.

More specifically it is an object to provide an easily installable postfor fences, docks and the like, of sound reinforced structure which mayutilize short lengths of 4 x 4 lumber as well as sheet metal, to form anornamental post body having a bore or cylindrical media therein whichslidably receives a reinforcing and anchoring stake preferablycylindrical throughout its upper portion and having an elongated taperedor pointed lower portion which is coarsely threaded for screw-drivininto the ground, such being combined with a simple means for applyingtorque to an exposed portion of the stake.

My improved construction lends itself well to do it yourself purchaserswho take pride in their homes and grounds, but seek to avoid heavyinstallation costs and efforts.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more readilyappear fromthe following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 shows :a view mostly in side elevation with some portions brokenaway and shown in section, of an embodiment of my structure after it hasbeen securely anchored in the ground with fence rails attached andbefore the anchoring stake has been cut at its upper end and theornamental top cap applied;

FIG. 2 shows a view partly in side elevation and partly in section on alarger scale, of the complete structure of the form illustrated in FIG.1; 7

FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section similar to FIG. 3, of another form of myinvention wherein sheet material such as anodized aluminum is used forthe post body, reinforced at longitudinally spaced portions throughoutits length by metal bearing rings wherein the anchoring stake istelescopically mounted.

Referring now to the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, I provide as shown, anelongated post of rectangular structure having axially andlongitudinally drilled therethrough a bore 4b of preferably cylindricalshape extending from end to end. Short lengths of 4 x 4 lumber eitherplaned or rough are abundantly available in many lumber mills and invery little demand.

The lower end of the post body 4 for a short distance is preferablytapered and is provided with ground-entering and engaging means whichmay be in the form of a coarse, external thread 4a or may be in the form(not shown) of a plurality of longitudinal grooves or flutings forpenetrating the ground when the post is slightly driven or pounded fromits upper end.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the body 4 will be set inupright position on the ground and will thereafter be stationary.

Within the post body 4 I provide an elongated anchoring stake 5 which issubstantially longer than the body 4 and may have the longer and upperportion thereof of cylindrical form loosely fitting but reinforcing thepost body 4 in use. The anchoring stake 5, if desired, may be made fromshort lengths of available pole stock, tapering slightly from its upperto its lower end but having an upper portion which nicely interfits andtelescopes with the upper end of the hollow body 4.

The lower end of stake 5 is substantially tapered and is coarselythreaded to facilitate engagement with and screw-driving into the groundwhen torque is applied to the upper end of the stake with only slightdownward pressure being required.

It is to be understood that stake 5 is long enough so that its lowerthreaded end may be projected for a considerable distance below groundlevel in fence post use, an anchoring extension of from one foot to twoand one half feet being desirable. The stake also must be of such alength as to extend for in most instances, two or more feet above theupper end of post body 4 to facilitate application of torque andscrew-driving of the stake. As shown in FIG. 1 a reinforcing ring orferrule 6 may be applied to the upper extremity of the stake,reinforcing turning action and preventing splitting when torque isapplied, as by an elongated, rigid torque arm 7 inserted through adiametrical aperture provided in the upper end of the stake and thereinforcing ring 6.

It will be understood that the post body 4 may be made of two or moresections for higher fences or docks. Stake member 5 in such instanceswill be preferably integral but not necessarily in length, in excess ofthe two sections. One post section may be positioned in the ground orlake bottom (in case of a dock) and the stake may then be screw-drivenfor several feet into the ground, being of adequate length so that itsupper end projects the required distance above the lowermost section ofthe post body. Thereafter the upper section of the post body may betelescoped and superimposed about the upper end of the stake and securedthereto.

In the procedure or operation of my structure, after the stake iscompletely screw-anchored, any portion of the upper end of the stakeabove the upper end of the post body is'sawed off and an ornamental capmember 8 is then secured to the top of the post body, as shown in FIG. 2It will be understood that the integral stakes S, tapered at the lowerends thereof and externally coarse threaded, may be constructed of anysuitable material such as metals, wood posts or poles, or even plastic.

As one alternative of the construction first described of my invention,the post body may be constructed from sheet metal or even plastic, asshown in FIG. 4, being angularly and longitudinally bent with edges ofthe original sheet being overlapped or otherwise secured, to in crosssection form a rectangular or other polygonal or circular shape.Thereafter or in the formation of the body 10, a series oflongitudinally spaced metal rings or the like 11 may be securedconcentrically within the post body, providing cylindrical walls orbearing surfaces with which the integral stake member may have closetelescopic clearance. If the post body 10 is made from certain sheetmetal such as aluminum the bodies may be heated and superimposed aboutthe metal rings 11 mounted on a suitable jig and thereafter, whencooled, shrink the body upon the rings, giving the proper spacedrelation. The stake 5 telescopically interfits the several rings of thepost body for longitudinally sliding therethrough and the stake in itsanchoring operation and the initial vertical positioning of the postbody, is similar to that of the form first described. When my poststructures are properly anchored under the operation herein described,the fence rails 9 or wiring may be attached to the post members, asshown in FIG. 1, to complete the fence structure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a highlyeflicient post structure for fences, docks and the like, which may bevery easily installed without post hole diggers or without the use ofpile drivers or heavy sledge action to anchor the post. My constructionenables posts, fences or docks of various heights to be readily andsecurely installed and firmly anchored, without the use of specialtools, sledge driving or extensive exercise of work and effort.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily installable post for fences, docks and the like comprising,

an elongated hollow body having an axial bore therethrough providingcylindrical slide-bearing surface area therein,

external ground penetrating means at the lower end of said body forinitially setting said body in upright position when said body isslightly driven from its upper end,

an elongated anchoring stake having a tapered lower end provided with anexternal coarse thread to facilitate screw-driving of said stake intothe ground,

said stake having an upper end initially extending beyond the upper endof said defined body and provided with means for attachment of aradially extending torque arm,

and a torque :arm removably attachable to said upper end for applyingtorque to said stake.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said stake is constructedof material which may be readily sawed,

and a cap member for covering and sealing the upper end of said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,938 12/1933Chance 52-157 2,488,036 11/1949 Pofcher 85-41 X 3,075,252 1/1963 King52157 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. R. S. VERMUT, AssistantExaminer.

1. A READILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH PROVIDING CYLINDRICAL SLIDE-BEARING SURFACE AREA THEREIN, EXTERNAL GROUND PENETRATING MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID BODY FOR INITIALLY SETTING SAID BODY IN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN SAID BODY IS SLIGHTLY DRIVEN FROM ITS UPPER END, AN ELONGATED AHCHORING STAKE HAVING A TAPERED LOWER END PROVIDED WITH AN EXTERNAL COARSE THREAD TO FACILITATE SCREW-DRIVING OF SAID STAKE INTO THE GROUND, SAID STAKE HAVING AN UPPER END INITIALLY EXTENDING BEYOND THE UPPER END OF SAID DEFINED BODY AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT OF A RADIALLY EXTENDING TORQUE ARM, AND A TORQUE ARM REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO SAID UPPER END FOR APPLYING TORQUE TO SAID STAKE. 